Somalia
Mogadishu · Africa · Eastern Africa
Population
19.7M
World Bank, 2025
Area
637,657 km²
GDP
$12.0B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$629.539
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
58.8 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Capital
Mogadishu
Somalia is a country located in Eastern Africa, with its capital in Mogadishu. As of 2025, it has a population of 19.7M and covers an area of 637,657 km². The economy of Somalia has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $12.0B (World Bank, 2025), translating to a per-capita income of $629.539 with annual economic growth of 4.1%. Life expectancy in Somalia stands at 58.8 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The official languages include Arabic, Somali, and the currency is the Somali shilling (Sh). Somalia shares land borders with 3 countries.
How to Call Somalia
The international calling code for Somalia is +252. When calling from abroad, first dial your country's exit code (for example, 00 in Europe), then 252, then the local number.
Country Code
+252
Exit Code
00
Trunk Prefix
None
Format
+252 XX XXX XXXX
Mobile Prefixes
61, 62, 63, 65
Example: To call a number in Somalia from abroad, dial +252 55 555 5555
How Large Is Somalia's Economy?
Somalia's GDP of $12.0B makes it a low-income economy by World Bank classification. GDP per capita of $630 is 71% below the regional average of 2,200 (World Bank, 2025). The most recent annual growth rate of 4.1% is above the global median of 3.1% (World Bank, 2025). The unemployment rate of 18.9% is 143% above the regional average of 7.8 (World Bank, 2025). Somalia's official currency is the Somali shilling (Sh). As a UN member, Somalia participates in multilateral trade frameworks.
GDP
$12.0B
World Bank, 2025
GDP Per Capita
$629.539
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth
4.1%
Unemployment
18.9%
Inflation
—
Currencies
SOS
What Are Somalia's Demographics?
With 19.7M people, Somalia is a nation of 19.7M people. At 31 people per km², the country is sparsely populated. Life expectancy stands at 58.8 years, 13.2 years below the global average of 72 years. Infant mortality of 67.8 per 1,000 live births is 54% above the regional average of 44 (World Bank, 2025). The country recognizes 2 official languages, including Arabic and Somali.
Population
19.7M
World Bank, 2025
Life Expectancy
58.8 yrs
World Bank, 2025
Infant Mortality
67.8 per 1k
Literacy Rate
—
Languages
Arabic, Somali
CO₂ Per Capita
—
Where Is Somalia Located?
Somalia covers 637,657 km² (246,000 sq miles) and shares land borders with 3 countries. The country sits within the Africa region, Eastern Africa subregion, spanning Africa. Mogadishu serves as the seat of government and administrative capital of Somalia. The country spans 1 time zone. Recognized internationally by ISO codes SO and SOM, Somalia is an independent sovereign state and a full UN member. Its 1 currency (SOS) reflects its participation in multilateral trade and monetary frameworks.
Area
637,657 km²
Region
Africa
Subregion
Eastern Africa
Capital
Mogadishu
Timezones
UTC+03:00
Continents
Africa
Border Countries
Data sourced from World Bank Open Data. Last updated: April 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Somalia
What is the population of Somalia?
Somalia has a population of 19.7M as of 2025, according to World Bank data. Life expectancy is 58.8 years.
What is the capital of Somalia?
The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu. It serves as the country's administrative and political center.
What is the GDP of Somalia?
Somalia's GDP is $12.0B as of 2025 (World Bank). GDP per capita is $629.539. The economy grew at 4.1% in 2025.
What is the life expectancy in Somalia?
The average life expectancy in Somalia is 58.8 years (World Bank, 2025), below the global average of 72 years. The infant mortality rate is 67.8 per 1,000 live births.
What region is Somalia in?
Somalia is located in Africa, specifically in Eastern Africa. It is part of the continent of Africa.
What is the size of Somalia?
Somalia covers an area of 637,657 km² (246,201 square miles). The population density is approximately 30.8 people per km².
What currency does Somalia use?
Somalia uses the Somali shilling (Sh) with currency code SOS.
What language is spoken in Somalia?
The official languages of Somalia are Arabic, Somali.
Is Somalia a member of the United Nations?
Yes, Somalia is a member of the United Nations.
What is Somalia's GDP?
Somalia's GDP is $12.0B (World Bank, 2025). This places it among Africa's economies by total output.
What is Somalia's GDP per capita?
Somalia's GDP per capita is $630, which is 71% below the regional average of 2,200 (World Bank, 2025).
What is Somalia's inflation rate?
Data not available.
What is the population density of Somalia?
Somalia has a population density of 31 people per km², making it sparsely populated.
What is the life expectancy in Somalia?
Life expectancy in Somalia is 58.8 years, 13.2 years below the global average of 72 years (World Bank, 2025).
What is the total area of Somalia?
Somalia has a total land area of 637,657 km² (246,000 sq miles). This measurement covers the country's total sovereign territory as recorded by international geographic databases.
How many countries does Somalia border?
Somalia shares land borders with 3 countries (identified by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 codes: DJI, ETH, KEN). These borders define the country's overland connections to the wider region.
What is the calling code for Somalia?
The international calling code for Somalia is +252. To call Somalia from abroad, dial your country's exit code (00), then 252, followed by the local number.
How do I call Somalia from the US?
To call Somalia from the United States, dial 011 + 252 + the local phone number. For example: 011-252-55 555 5555.
Compare Somalia With...
India
China
United States
Indonesia
Pakistan
Nigeria
Brazil
Bangladesh
Russia
MexicoCompare Somalia
Select a country to compare population, GDP, and 12+ indicators side by side.
